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GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! After a rainy, breezy yesterday, you may enjoy today’s weather, which should bring cloudy skies and a balmy temp of 55. And now here’s some partly-balmy NEWS.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• Yesterday afternoon a man suspected of shoplifting from a Target store at Mall 205 was shot and killed by Portland police. Apparently a “confrontation” happened in the store’s parking lot which led to the man being fired upon and killed by three officers. As usual, the bureau refused to release substantive information about the shooting, and it could be weeks before we learn the names of the officers who shot the suspected shoplifter. It’s the fourth deadly police shooting of the year. Find out more from our Courtney Vaughn.

• While they may have gotten away with a lot in 2022, Portland’s cadre of rich, greedy, and morally repugnant VILLAINS were sloppier in 2023, and here’s our ranking of the baddies who got caught damaging the city’s rep for their own benefit. Also it was a YUGE year for the labor movement, especially in Portland. Check out our rundown of the top labor stories of 2023. (It’s all part of our Top Stories year in review!)

Portland’s right-wingers, rich crybabies, police enablers, and fake Democrats crawled out of the woodwork and were especially busy this past year. Here are our picks for Portland’s TOP VILLAINS OF 2023!https://t.co/58nSuwdEE6

— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) December 27, 2023

• Speaking of “cruelty profiteers”:

Portland Mercury named Rene their #1 villain of 2023. If you haven’t heard of the Merc (they don’t have much of a readership) their editor often doubles as a “reporter”. Let them know what you think by donating to our campaign today!https://t.co/OLJ7hnBSDr
Happy Holidays to all,… pic.twitter.com/jBi2esOguJ

— Rene For Portland (@reneforportland) December 28, 2023

• A suspect has been arrested in the Christmas Eve fatal stabbing of a man near the MAX station in the Goose Hollow neighborhood, and charged with murder in the second degree and unlawful use of a weapon. Following the altercation, the victim boarded a MAX train and while discovered after a couple of stops, the man died on the way to the hospital. 

• Police have also released a photo of the vehicle which was involved in the hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian on Christmas Day, and—try to contain your shock—it’s an oversized pickup truck… the kind often driven by road raging assholes. 

• If you’re looking for some New Year’s Eve fun, there’s no shortage of Portland shows, and our music columnist Jenni Moore highlighted a few for your perusal in this week’s Hear in Portland!

Food critic Andrea Damewood breaks down her favorite dishes from Portland restaurants (and one pop-up). On the list: chocolate truffle dumplings, Tuna Toast you could share (but you won’t), and a French onion soup that lives rent free in her head 24/7.https://t.co/592wsdIugr

— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) December 28, 2023

IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• Special Counsel Jack Smith has filed a motion to stop former President (and current sociopathic liar) Donald Trump from spreading politically-based bullshit and conspiracy theories during his trial for election interference. The court is also being asked to stop him from blaming police for the January 6 domestic terrorist attack on the nation’s capitol. (Not sure if they make a ball gag big enough to fill the gaping garbage mouth of Trump, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try.)

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) is switching congressional districts ahead of the 2024 election, a surprise move that means she will avoid a likely rematch against the Democrat she narrowly beat last year. https://t.co/J9Aak0TTN4

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 28, 2023

• GOOD NEWS: A federal judge has slapped down Idaho’s draconian gender-affirming care ban, correctly saying “Parents should have the right to make the most fundamental decisions about how to care for their children.” I defy the conservatives who love screaming about their rights at school board meetings to disagree with that statement.

• RIP to the great Tommy Smothers—of the famed comedy/singing duo the Smothers Brothers, and a hilarious progressive who changed the face of television—who has died at the age of 86.

Tommy Smothers was the friendly face of activism for so many in mainstream America. Nixon hated that he and his brother called out the Vietnam war on their CBS primetime series and Tommy was there in that Montreal hotel room with John and Yoko recording “Give Peace A Chance.” pic.twitter.com/S7yNG2bVXo

— Paul Myers (@pulmyears) December 27, 2023

• Gypsy Rose Blanchard—the subject of an HBO documentary and Hulu series—has been released from prison years after she persuaded her former boyfriend to kill her abusive mother, who had forced Blanchard to pretend she was suffering from multiple serious illnesses while profiting from the lie.

• Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley is backpedaling as furiously as her legs will take her after neglecting to mention “slavery” as a cause for the Civil War. 🤔 This morning she responded to the flub by saying “Of course I know about slavery, I’m from the South,” 🤔 adding “but what’s the lesson in all that? We need to make sure that every person has freedom… and be anything they want without government getting in the way.” Once again, for those in the back: 🤔.

• And finally… this is the only Tesla I will accept.

Man puts 10ft buggy wheels on a Tesla and drives it upside down pic.twitter.com/1jGkvsYEjT

— non aesthetic things (@PicturesFoIder) December 26, 2023